An article in today’s Portland Press Herald describes progress Maine among Maine fishermen and consumers in supporting sustainable fishing practices.
Fishing regulations have increased nets’ minimum mesh size from 4 inches 30 years ago to 6.5 inches today, making New England’s net mesh sizes the largest in the world, said [GMRI’s Jen] Levin. The larger mesh has dramatically reduced the unintentional catch of untargeted fish species.
Today, many of the heavily regulated Gulf of Maine groundfish stocks are rebuilt or are on the rebound. “If it is caught by a Maine fisherman, you should feel really good about eating it,” said Levin.